What Does Speedball Mean?
Stimulants like cocaine or meth (even caffeine is in this group) typically give people more energy and alertness. The slang for these drugs is “speed.” The term speedball is probably a combination of a couple of slang terms.
The second half of the term isn’t explicitly used for depressants, but it is associated with opioids (which are depressants). The slang term “balling,” which means using or being under the influence of narcotics, particularly heroin or other opioids, gives us the second part of the name.
What Is a Speedball – Beyond the Name
A speedball is a dangerous cocktail combination drug: a stimulant and a depressant. Usually, the stimulant is cocaine, and the depressant is heroin. But people can use various combos hoping for a similar effect: better high, more alert, and less paranoid.
Speedballing has been around as far back as the 80s, leaving a trail of untimely deaths, including high-profile celebrities like River Phoenix.
What Are the Dangerous Effects of a Speedball?
Combining Stimulants and Depressants
Research shows that using cocaine and heroin together is associated with a discriminative stimulus that combines aspects of both drugs. For context, cocaine stimulates the central nervous system, leading to symptoms like increased heart rate and high blood pressure.
On the other hand, heroin is an opioid drug that slows down brain and nervous system function. Symptoms of heroin use include slowed breathing and a drop in body temperature and blood pressure. You may have heard of the heroin nod (or nodding out), which results partly because of depressant.
Increased Risk of Overdose and Death
One of the adverse effects of speedballing is drug overdose, typically from cardiac arrest, cardiovascular collapse, and brain damage. Both coke and heroin can cause severe damage to the body, and their synergistic relationship means the side effects are often intense when the two drugs are combined.
Why are Speedballs Dangerous?
Speedballing is particularly dangerous for the following reasons:
Mixing Drugs with Different Effects on the Body
Many people who use speedballs believe that the practice produces a more pleasurable high and that the two drugs cancel out each other’s negative effects. However, the opposite is true because speedballs have intensely adverse side effects.
Increased Strain on the Heart and Other Organs
The “push and pull” effects of speedball can cause significant and potentially fatal medical complications, such as seizures, strokes, comas, kidney disease, brain damage, and cardiovascular illnesses.
Respiratory Depression
The combination of a stimulant and a depressant can lead to respiratory depression or failure, especially when the effects of the stimulant begin to wear off. Once that happens, the effects of the depressant will be left without a countermeasure. This can cause a lack of oxygen to vital organs, including the brain, and may result in brain damage or death.
High Risk of Addiction and Tolerance
When you ask a person with an addiction, “What is a speedball?” they will likely describe an intense rush. The problem is that regular use makes the brain increasingly dependent on the drug-induced dopamine response (where the rush comes from). As the body becomes more tolerant, the body needs higher and higher amounts to experience the same effect.
Treatment Options for Speedball Addiction
People who study with speedball addiction are encouraged to seek help. Many registered drug recovery centers and health professionals offer tailored treatment, including medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, behavioral interventions, and life-building skills.
Suppose you or someone you know is struggling with a speedball addiction. In that case, it is important to find an addiction treatment center offering cocaine rehab and experience with depressants, such as a heroin rehab.
The dangerous combination of stimulants and depressants can lead to severe health risks, including overdose, heart and organ damage, and addiction. Heartwood Recovery, a men’s drug rehab center in Austin, Texas, offers comprehensive, evidence-based treatment options to help individuals overcome speedball addiction and rebuild their lives. Call our team today for a free assessment or just some guidance on your next step for yourself or someone you love.
